Artificial vegetation with engineered reflectance spectra

ABSTRACT

An artificial turf system may comprise a plurality of synthetic filaments and a substrate base layer coupled to the plurality of synthetic filaments. Each filament of the plurality of synthetic filaments may comprise a pigment having an elevated solar reflectance for wavelengths less than 2500 nm. This elevated solar reflectance may be configured to reflect near-infrared radiation, thereby reducing near-surface air temperatures and the artificial turf surface temperatures. Such engineered pigments may also be advantageously used in the leaves of artificial vegetation systems, such as, for example, artificial shrubs and trees.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/313,939 entitled “ARTIFICIALVEGETATION WITH ENGINEERED REFLECTANCE SPECTRA” filed on Feb. 25, 2022.The content of the foregoing application is hereby incorporated byreference (except for any subject matter disclaimers or disavowals, andexcept to the extent of any conflict with the disclosure of the presentapplication, in which case the disclosure of the present applicationshall control).

FIELD

This disclosure relates to artificial turf and vegetation products,specifically, artificial turf and vegetation engineered with pigmentsfor the purpose of increasing the efficacy with which they reflectincident solar energy and emit their own thermal energy.

BACKGROUND

Elevated temperatures during the summer tend to increase the risk ofheat-related morbidity and mortality, increase energy consumption, andincrease water use. The impacts of extreme heat are particularlypronounced in urban environments, where water resources are limited andthe urban heat-island effect can be severe. Use of vegetation is acommon strategy to provide shading and/or evaporative cooling. Moreover,visual proximity to vegetation (e.g. real and/or artificial vegetation)has been shown to contribute to well-being and provide mental healthbenefits. However, natural vegetation such as trees can createsignificant problems in urban environments. They grow slowly, oftentaking nearly a decade from the date of planting before they are capableof providing significant shade. Trees also may interfere withbelow-ground and above-ground infrastructure and require significantmaintenance and irrigation. Artificial alternatives for shade treesinclude artificial shade structures, which lack the aesthetic and mentalhealth benefits of trees. Common alternatives for traditional grassinclude use of gravel/rock, decomposed/crushed granite, bare dirt, andartificial turf. However, these alternatives absorb and store heat,resulting in elevated surface and air temperatures, particularly insummer. Therefore, there is a need for artificial vegetation that mimicsor improves upon properties of natural vegetation.

SUMMARY

A number of embodiments can comprise an artificial turf system. Theartificial turf system can comprise a plurality of synthetic filaments,wherein each synthetic filament of the plurality of synthetic filamentscan comprise a pigment having an elevated solar reflectance forwavelengths of less than 2500 nm, wherein the pigment is configured toreflect a majority of near-infrared radiation; and a substrate baselayer coupled to the plurality of synthetic filaments.

Some embodiments can comprise a method of manufacturing artificial turf.The method can comprise forming a plurality of synthetic filaments; andcoupling the plurality of synthetic filaments to a substrate base layer,wherein the forming further comprises: melting a plastic material;selecting an engineered pigment, wherein the engineered pigment isconfigured with a high solar reflectance (high spectral reflectance forwavelengths between 400 nm and 2500 nm); mixing the engineered pigmentwith the melted plastic material; and molding the melted plasticmaterial using injection molding techniques.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the following description and accompanying drawings;

FIG. 1 illustrates an offset view of a portion of artificial turf, inaccordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the artificial turf, in accordance withvarious embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates artificial vegetation, in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of the artificial vegetation havingspectrally-selective pigments and additives, in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a method of manufacturing the artificial turf withspectrally-selective pigments and additives, in accordance with variousembodiments; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a graph showing spectral reflectance ofvegetation-based pigments, natural grass, and artificial turf, inaccordance with various exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is of various exemplary embodiments only, andis not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration ofthe present disclosure in any way. Rather, the following description isintended to provide a convenient illustration for implementing variousembodiments including the best mode. As will become apparent, variouschanges may be made in the function and arrangement of the elementsdescribed in these embodiments without departing from principled of thepresent disclosure.

For the sake of brevity, the connecting lines shown in various figurescontained herein are intended to represent exemplary functionalrelationships and/or physical couplings between various elements. Itshould be noted that many alternative or additional functionalrelationships or physical connections may be present in artificialturf/vegetation products and methods of manufacturing thereof.

With reference to FIG. 1 , an artificial turf system 100 is shown inaccordance with various embodiments. The artificial turf system 100 maycomprise a plurality of synthetic filaments 102 coupled to a substratebase layer 104. The plurality of synthetic filaments 102 may beindividually coupled to the substrate base layer 104, attached to thesubstrate base layer 104 in filament groups, either in uniform rows orin random groupings, or coupled to the substrate base layer 104 in anysuitable configuration. In various embodiments, the plurality ofsynthetic filaments 102 may extend substantially orthogonal from thesubstrate base layer 104. In various embodiments, the plurality ofsynthetic filaments 102 may be stitched to the substrate base layer 104or attached using adhesives or fasteners. In various embodiments, theplurality of synthetic filaments 102 may be tufted into the substratebase layer 104, adhered to the substrate base layer 104, glued to thesubstrate base layer 104, or otherwise fixed to the substrate base layer104 by any method suitable for permanently fixing the plurality ofsynthetic filaments 102 to the substrate base layer 104. Becausemanufactured synthetic turf is typically rolled up and transported foroutdoor landscaping applications, it may be desirable to choose a methodof adhering filaments to a base layer that prevents the filaments fromfraying, or otherwise uprooting from the layer.

With further reference to the cross-section view of a portion of theartificial turf system 100 in FIG. 2 , and with continued reference toFIG. 1 , each filament in the plurality of filaments 102 may comprise apigment 105. In various embodiments, the pigment 105 may be configuredwith a high solar reflectance 103 for a significant portion of the solarspectrum having a wavelength of less than 2500 nm. Accordingly, thepigment 105 may be configured to reflect a high amount of near-infraredradiation.

The pigment 105 may include a single or multiple individual pigments andother additives intended to achieve various colors and brightness withinthe visible spectrum (e.g., browns and greens), while maintaining highoverall solar reflectance. These pigments may be either organic orinorganic. Organic pigments include but are not limited to Copperphthalocyanines, Benzimidazolone, Chlorophyllin, Spirulina, otherplant-based pigments, and the like. Inorganic pigments include but arenot limited to Titanium dioxide, Barium sulfate, Mica, othermineral-based pigments, and the like.

FIG. 6 illustrates a graph 600 displaying a comparison of spectralreflectance for a plastic-resin infused with plant-based pigments(Pigment Sample), a commercially available sample of artificial turf(A-Turf), and a sample of natural lawn (Grass) in a working example ofan embodiment. Each sample was tested for spectral reflectance in aspectrometer, sampling at wavelength steps of 5 nm. As can be seen inFIG. 6 , the overall solar reflectance of the Pigment, A-Turf, and Grasswere 0.28, 0.11, and 0.30, respectively. While all samples haveincreased reflectance in the green part of the visible spectrum (500-550nm), the natural grass and the plant-based pigment sample both have veryhigh spectral reflectance in the near-infrared part of the spectrum(with increases in spectral reflectance shown in the 780-1350 nm range).

In contrast, the artificial turf maintains only about a 0.20 spectralreflectance throughout the near-infrared spectra. This demonstrates thata plastic sample with plant-based pigment can achieve nearly the sametotal solar reflectance as natural grass. Pigment mixtures, includingthe addition of lightening agents such as Titanium dioxide or Bariumsulfate can enable artificial vegetation with higher solar reflectancethan natural vegetation.

Returning now to FIG. 1 , increasing the solar reflectance of theplurality of synthetic filaments 102 is advantageous because less solarenergy is absorbed (and more solar energy is reflected) by the syntheticfilaments 102. Generally speaking, surfaces that absorb more of thesun's energy are warmer to the touch than surfaces that reflect more ofthe sun's energy. Solar energy absorption is particularly acute forconventional artificial turf, which tends to be comprised of plastic andlacks the evapotranspiration and high near-infrared reflectance ofnatural grass. The pigment 105 increases the solar reflectance 103 ofthe plurality of synthetic filaments 102, maintaining a cooler surface,reducing near-surface air temperatures and heat convection into thesurrounding air. In various embodiments, the pigment 105 has a highsolar reflectance particularly in the near-infrared spectrum (i.e.,wavelengths from about 700 nm to about 2500 nm).

The pigment 105 may also reduce the need for irrigation. Conventionalartificial turfs generally require less irrigation than natural turf.However, irrigation has been deployed onto conventional artificial turfsto combat elevated near-surface air temperatures. Increasing the solarreflectance 103 of the turf itself may reduce or eliminate the need forirrigation. Moreover, being spectrally-selective to primarily reflectnear-infrared radiation, as opposed to visible light, the pigment 105may enable the artificial turf 100 to remain cool, relative toconventional artificial turf, without affecting turf color. Accordingly,the pigment 105 may also enable greater turf design flexibility byenabling use of darker artificial turf colors, which may have otherwisebeen unsuitable for the heat of a given environment due to theirincreased absorption of solar energy. Incorporating the pigment 105 intothe plurality of synthetic filaments 102 may also reduce color fadingdue to ultraviolet light exposure.

In various embodiments, the pigment 105 may also comprise a low thermalreflectance, or high thermal emittance, for example, in a wavelengthgreater than about 4000 nm. In various embodiments, the pigment 105 maycomprise a thermal emittance in the longwave spectrum between 4,000 nmand 8,000 nm, 8,000 nm and 13,000 nm, 13,000 nm and 20,000 nm, 20,000 nmand 25,000 nm, or 25,000 nm and 30,000 nm. In many embodiments, athermal emittance of a pigment may fall within the atmospheric infraredwindow (e.g., approx. 8,000 to 13,000 nm). In this way, thermalradiation emitted by the pigment remains largely unabsorbed and leavesthe planet. Various embodiments of pigment 105 will include particularlyhigh spectral emittance in this infrared window.

In various embodiments, the substrate base layer 104 may comprise atleast one cavity configured to allow fluid to pass therethrough.Accordingly, the substrate base layer 104 may enable water fromprecipitation events to be transported to the substrate below thesubstrate base layer 104. This may further increase cooling of theartificial turf system 100 and reduce air pollution associated with fineparticles becoming airborne during moderate to high wind events. Invarious embodiments, the substrate base layer 104 may further comprisean acrylic-based polymer to enable greater water absorption. In variousembodiments, the substrate base layer 104 may further comprise a heatstorage system including high thermal mass and/or phase changematerials. In various embodiments, the substrate base layer 104 maycomprise a thermal storage system including high thermal mass materialsand/or phase change materials to control the storage and subsequentrelease of heat.

In various embodiments, the plurality of filaments 102 may furthercomprise a lightening agent such as titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and/orbarium sulfate (BaSO₄), which can both be highly reflective pigments. Invarious embodiments, the plurality of filaments 102 may comprisepolyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a strong reflector of infraredradiation, or any suitable PVDF-based pigments. In various embodiments,each filament of the plurality of synthetic filaments 102 may be made ofone or more of nylon, polypropylene, and polyethylene, or any othersuitable synthetic material. In various embodiments, the substrate baselayer 104 may be made of one or more of nylon, polyethylene,polypropylene, or combinations thereof, or any other suitable syntheticmaterial. The substrate base layer 104 may be comprised of syntheticfibers that are thicker than the plurality of synthetic filaments 102.The substrate base layer 103 may be a thick monofilament.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 , an artificial vegetation system 300 isdisclosed herein. In various embodiments, the artificial vegetationsystem 300 may comprise a plurality of synthetic leaves 302 and a base304 coupled to the plurality of synthetic leaves 302. In variousembodiments, the artificial vegetation system 300 may further comprise aplurality of artificial stalks 306, or stems. In various embodiments,each leaf of the plurality of synthetic leaves 302 may comprise apigment 305 configured with a high level of solar reflectance 303 in aportion of the solar spectrum having wavelengths less than 2500 nm. Invarious embodiments, the pigment 305 may be configured to with a highdegree of reflectance for near-infrared radiation. In variousembodiments, the pigment 305 may be configured with a thermal emittanceat a wavelength greater than 4000 nm. In various embodiments, each leafof the plurality of synthetic leaves 302. may be made of one or more ofnylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like. In various embodiments,each leaf of the plurality of synthetic leaves 302 may comprisepolyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). In various embodiments, each leaf of theplurality of synthetic leaves 302 may comprise titanium dioxide (TiO₂).

Referring to FIG. 5 , a method of manufacturing 500 artificial turf isdisclosed herein. In various embodiments, the method 500 may compriseforming (step 502) a plurality of synthetic filaments. In variousembodiments, the forming (step 502) may further comprise melting (step503) a plastic material. In various embodiments, the melting (step 503)may utilize a plastic material, wherein the plastic material is made ofone or more of nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, combinations thereof,or other suitable material.

In various embodiments, the forming (step 502) may further compriseselecting (step 504) an engineered pigment, wherein the pigment may beconfigured with a high level of solar reflectance for wavelengths lessthan 2500 nm. In various embodiments, the selecting (step 504) mayfurther comprise selecting an engineered pigment configured with athermal emittance at a wavelength greater than 4000 nm. In variousembodiments, the forming (step 502) may further comprise mixing (step505) the pigment with the melted plastic. In various embodiments, themixing (step 505) may further comprise mixing the pigment with themelted plastic and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). In variousembodiments, the mixing (step 505) may further comprise mixing thepigment with the melted plastic and titanium oxide (TiO₂). In variousembodiments, the forming (step 502) may further comprise molding (step506) the plastic using injection molding techniques. In variousembodiments, the selecting (step 504) and mixing (step 505) may occurbefore the molding (step 506). In various embodiments, the method 500 ofmanufacturing artificial turf may further comprise coupling (step 507)the plurality of synthetic filaments to a substrate base layer.

While the principles of this disclosure have been shown in variousembodiments, many modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions,the elements, materials and components, used in practice, which areparticularly adapted for a specific environment and operatingrequirements may be used without departing from the principles and scopeof this disclosure. These and other changes or modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure has been described with reference to variousembodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the specification is to beregarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and allsuch modifications are intended to be included within the scope of thepresent disclosure. Likewise, benefits, other advantages, and solutionsto problems have been described above with regard to variousembodiments. However, benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, andany element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution tooccur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical,required, or essential feature or element.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list ofelements does not include only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. Also, as used herein, the terms “coupled,”“coupling,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover aphysical connection, an electrical connection, a magnetic connection, anoptical connection, a communicative connection, a functional connection,and/or any other connection. When language similar to “at least one ofA, B, or C” or “at least one of A, B, and C” is used in thespecification or claims, the phrase is intended to mean any of thefollowing: (1) at least one of A; (2) at least one of B; (3) at leastone of C; (4) at least one of A and at least one of B; (5) at least oneof B and at least one of C; (6) at least one of A and at least one of C;or (7) at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.

What is claimed is:
 1. An artificial turf system, comprising: aplurality of synthetic filaments, wherein each synthetic filament of theplurality of synthetic filaments comprises a pigment having an elevatedsolar reflectance for wavelengths of less than 2500 nm, wherein thepigment is configured to reflect a majority of near-infrared radiation;and a substrate base layer coupled to the plurality of syntheticfilaments.
 2. The artificial turf system of claim 1, wherein the pigmentis configured with a high spectral thermal emittance at wavelengthsgreater than 4000 nm.
 3. The artificial turf system of claim 1, whereineach synthetic filament of the plurality of synthetic filamentscomprises at least one of nylon, polypropylene, or polyethylene.
 4. Theartificial turf system of claim 1, wherein each synthetic filament ofthe plurality of synthetic filaments comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.5. The artificial turf system of claim 1, wherein each syntheticfilament of the plurality of synthetic filaments comprises titaniumdioxide.
 6. The artificial turf system of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof synthetic filaments extends substantially orthogonal from thesubstrate base layer.
 7. The artificial turf system of claim 1, whereinthe substrate base layer comprises at least one cavity configured toallow fluid to pass therethrough.
 8. The artificial turf system of claim6, wherein the substrate base layer further comprises an acrylic-basedpolymer configured to absorb water.
 9. An artificial vegetation system,comprising: a plurality of synthetic leaves, wherein each leaf of theplurality of synthetic leaves comprises a pigment having high solarreflectance for wavelengths less than 2500 nm, wherein the pigment isconfigured to reflect a majority of near-infrared radiation; and a base,wherein the plurality of synthetic leaves is coupled to the base. 10.The artificial vegetation system of claim 9, wherein the pigment isconfigured with a thermal emittance at a wavelength greater than 4000nm.
 11. The artificial vegetation system of claim 9, wherein each leafof the plurality of synthetic leaves comprises at least of one of nylon,polypropylene, or polyethylene.
 12. The artificial vegetation system ofclaim 9, wherein each leaf of the plurality of synthetic leavescomprises polyvinylidene fluoride.
 13. The artificial vegetation systemof claim 9, wherein each leaf of the plurality of synthetic leavescomprises titanium dioxide.
 14. A method of manufacturing artificialturf, the method comprising: forming a plurality of synthetic filaments;and coupling the plurality of synthetic filaments to a substrate baselayer, wherein the forming further comprises: melting a plasticmaterial; selecting an engineered pigment, wherein the engineeredpigment is configured with a high solar reflectance for wavelengthsbetween 700 nm and 2500 nm; mixing the engineered pigment with themelted plastic material; and molding the melted plastic material usinginjection molding techniques.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein theselecting further comprises selecting the engineered pigment configuredwith a thermal emittance having a wavelength greater than 4000 nm. 16.The method of claim 14, wherein the plastic material is at least one ofnylon, polypropylene, or polyethylene.
 17. The method of claim 14,wherein the mixing further comprises mixing the engineered pigment withthe melted plastic material and polyvinylidene fluoride.
 18. The methodof claim 14, wherein the mixing further comprises mixing the engineeredpigment with the melted plastic material and titanium dioxide.